In a message dated 8/2/99, 9:42:46 AM, cleland at u.washington.edu writes:
<<After reading the messages regarding the pros and cons of
revealing the location of interesting birds, I find that I have to
disagree with those who are against publicity. Of course, publicizing the
location of birds could cause some harm to the birds, but in general, the
more people who see interesting birds, and get excited about it, the
better for birds in general.>>


You're right, of course...the more people we get involved in bird watching,
ultimately, the more habitat is reserved for them.

What I was driving at, though, was not a fortuitous and lucky day for you all
when your Snowy Owl showed up on campus. I did say to take such publicizing
on a case by case basis. If I had a pair of spotted owls suddenly take up
residence in my backyard and start nesting, I would contact TWEETERS, but I
certainly wouldn't call the newspapers.......not when I live in an area where
the locals drive trucks bearing the bumper sticker that says, "Save a
logger, eat more spotted owls." One way or another, some jackass would
trespass on my property, kill the owls, and then bask in the limelight of his
like minded peers.

Too many people focus on the small part.........the poor beleagured spotted
owl, and blame it for their problems, when we all know........even THEY
know.........that it's clearcutting, overharvesting, and utter destruction of
old growth forests that are causing the loss of jobs, NOT a bird, for
heaven's sake.
There's people who would gladly see the spotted owl go extinct, because, by
god, "then we can go back to cutting trees, just like daddy did, and granddad
did, and great granddad did".
They JUST DON"T GET IT. Try reasoning with one of them........ask them
something really simple like, "What are you going to do when all the trees
are gone?" You know what you get?? A punch in the nose, because they have no
answer.

That's the type I am saying we need to protect the birds, the wildlife, the
wild itself from. People who refuse to see what's going on around them, or
refuse to admit it's happening. People who don't want to give up just a
little bit of their comfort or their possessions in order to let a little
wildlife remain. People who make the laws to make other people conform to
what THEY want, not what the majority wants.........
Michelle
Littlerock